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Getting healthy and staying healthy can be challenging for so many people. For me in particular I really struggle with it. I really have no excuse except our winters are long and cold and I tend to hibernate indoors with little to no exercise, which means 6 months of being lethargic. Unless, of course, I road trip during the winter. If I road trip, I usually head South which is good for a couple weeks of hiking and playing outside, but then its back to the frigid North and staying inside. To say I hate the cold is an understatement.

Anyways, by the time we start to thaw out I feel icky and out of shape (well, round is a shape, but not one I prefer) and I begin to make a push to start all the healthy living tips from the previous years. Yes, it’s a vicious cycle that I haven’t been able to break yet I’m working on it. Staying healthy is so important for an active travel lifestyle. Unhealthy people don’t tend to travel and that would be a complete tragedy for me. So here I go again with a sprint towards healthier habits.

Dannon Oikos and has teamed up with nationally recognized dietician Keri Glassman to launch the ‘Grab a Spoon ’til June’ campaign to share some healthy living tips to inspire and encourage me and you to be our best this summer. At this point I’ll take all the help I can get. A little aside, 0% fat Dannon Oikos® Greek nonfat yogurt paired with some fruit and granola is delicious…..

Keri has 4 great tips for keeping healthy this summer:

1. Focus on eating better one meal at a time. I know whenever I hear the words “eat better” it can seem so overwhelming. So many meals to plan and decisions to make regarding food. I like Keri’s approach to just take it one meal at a time. I don’t need to plan an entire week or month of healthy eating; I just need to plan one meal. Although I think we eat fairly well I know we are not eating enough fruits and veggies. So glad its summer and fresh produce is on the way.

2. Don’t eat around a craving. Guilty as charged, especially if I’m dealing with a devil called PMS (lol). Keri’s advice: “Honor your craving with a conscious indulgence – take a few deep breaths and find a healthy alternative! Try satisfying your sweet tooth with Dannon Oikos® Greek nonfat yogurt, it is nutritious but still has an incredible taste.” I need to make the effort to walk off those cravings. Instead of heading to the kitchen I just need to head outside.

3. No-Excuse Exercise. Dang, I hate it when the E word is brought up in healthy living tips. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a fan of exercise. However, I do like hiking and biking, which I don’t really consider exercise as much I consider them an outdoor activity. Keri says that “sometimes the biggest barrier to working out is just getting there so a good option can be to make it as easy as possible.” I completely agree. For the days I can’t get outside I have a large hula hoop that I use. Not really exercise as much as it is just fun to see how long I can hula for—it’s a great workout for the hips, important for hiking and biking.

4. Satisfying Proteins. According to Keri “a moderate-protein balanced diet with a reasonable amount of fiber, carbohydrates and the appropriate amount of healthy fats is the best way to maintain a healthy weight. Dairy is a great source of protein, try a creamy Greek nonfat yogurt like Dannon Oikos®–it has twice the protein of regular lowfat yogurt.” I like the fact that there is extra protein in Oikos® yogurt since we don’t eat a lot of meat proteins.

The ‘Grab a Spoon ‘til June’ campaign offers tips on how to help achieve a balanced diet; your weight management goals, exercise ideas, motivational messages to keep you on track, nutritious recipes and more! Dannon Oikos and Glassman want to be your ultimate partners for shaking up your routine.

Be sure to visit their website to print a 50cent coupon off your next purchase.

Need another reason to visit Oikosyogurt.com? I found this waffle sandwich recipe and so many others that are going to be taste tested in my kitchen.

I hope these tips were helpful. I know they gave me encouragement to get healthy for Summer! Stop by Danon Oikos Facebook page for more ideas.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky ready will receive a signed copy of Keri Glassman’s new book Slim, Calm, Sexy Diet. Giveaway ends June 20th at 5 p.m. EST. Please leave your email address in the comment so I can contact you if you win.

Mandatory Entry:

What is your best healthy living tip?

Additional Entires (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

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disclaimer: I have partnered with Dannon to help promote the Dannon Oikos Greek Grab a Spoon campaign. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, which includes writing about the promotion and product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.
Oikos Greek Nonfat yogurt has 12 -14g Protein (24%DV) while regular lowfat yogurt: 5g protein (10%DV) per 5.3oz.

Cheers,